Splint for foot deformations



Feb. 22, 1955 u GESSEL 2,702,542

SPLINT FOR FOOT DEFORMATIONS Filed Dec. 24, 1951 .INVENTOR. (/0541 M. 659854,

' 26 i g mwaw ae United States Patent SPLlNT FOR FOOT DEFORMATIONS Udell M. Gessel, Pasadena, Calif.; Helen Ann Gessel, administratrix of said Udell M. Gessel, deceased Application December 24, 1951, Serial No. 263,034

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-80) My invention relate to a splint for use in the dynamic correction of clubfoot.

It is an object of the invention to provide a splint which is applied to the clubfoot of an infant, and is also connected to the remaining foot so that the position and movement of the splint is determined by the infants feet. When the splint is properly applied, the normal kicking of the infant accomplishes a dynamic correction of the deformity.

It is an object of the invention to provide a splint which is effective in the correction of forefoot adduction.

-It is an object of the invention to provide a splint having a crossbar being provided with a foot attachment means comprising a forefoot plate and a heel plate, the forefoot plate being rotatable in the plane of its plantar face and being adjustably secured to the end of the crossbar and positioned so as to accomplish positive abduction of the abducted forefoot. The heel plate is hingedly secured to the rearward portion of the forefoot plate so that the hindfoot may follow after the abducting force which is passed through the midtarsal joints and accomplish a manipulation of the infants foot resembling the manipulation of the foot by the surgeons hands while correcting metatarsus adductus. When the crossbar is swung by movement of the opposite foot, the movement of the crossbar is transmitted directly to the forefoot of the foot requiring correction. The force accompanying this movement is transmitted through the midtarsal joints to the heel portion of the foot which is restrained in movement due to its attachment to the infants limb, thereby producing continuous manipulation as the result of the kicking movement of the infant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heel plate and a forefoot plate connected to one end of a crossarm, the opposite end of which is connected to the other foot of the infant, the heel plate being so formed that it may be secured to the heel in a manner to effect positive manipulation as the result of the different movements of the crossbar by the infant but being connected to the crossbar by a free-acting pivot which will permit it to swing relatively to the forefoot plate.

It is an object of the invention to provide as a part of this corrective splint a heel plate having a tongue or flange arranged to extend upward adjacent the medial aspect of the heel thereby increasing the positive application of force and movement to the heel for corrective purposes. In this way I have provided an effective means for bringing the heel downward and outward from an inwardly turned position to its normal physiological relation to the remainder of the foot and limb.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail for the purpose of disclosure, without limiting the scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my new splint;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section taken on a plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, to enlarged scale, of the leftward end of the splint shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view similar to Fig. 3, but with the wing nut and the end of the crossbar removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a "ice manner of securing the foot member of the splint to an infants foot;

'Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view looking toward the rear of an inwardly turned heel, showing the manner in which the flange of the heel plate is positioned against the medial aspect of the heel; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the manner in which downward swinging of the opposite end of the crossbar rotates the inwardly turned heel toward normal position.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the splint comprises a crossbar 10 formed symmetrically on opposite sides of the center of the bar. On each end of the bar there is an enlargement 11 to which a forefoot plate 12 is adjustably secured for adductive or abductive swinging movement in the plane defined by the upper face of the plate 12 and parallel to the plane defined by the upper face of the crossbar 10.

Each plate 12 forms part of a foot attachment and manipulating means 13, of which two are provided, one at each end of the crossbar 10 for attachment to the respective feet of the infant. Each of these foot attachment members 13 also includes a heel plate 14 which overlaps the posterior portion of the associated forefoot plate 12 and is pivotally related thereto by a free-acting pivot 15 so as to be swingable from side-to-side as indicated by phantom lines 14 in Fig. 3 during the time it is being worn by the infant.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, each forefoot plate 12 has a disc 16 secured to the rear portion 17 thereof by diametrally disposed rivets 18. The pivot 15 which secures the forward portion of the heel plate 14 to the forefoot plate 12 passes centrally through the disc 16. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a pin 19 projects downwardly from the forward portion of the disc 16, and a threaded stud 20 projects downwardly from the rearward portion of the disc 16, the stud 20 being arranged to pass through an opening 21 in the enlargement 11 at the end of the crossbar 10, and the pin 19 being arranged to project into a selected one of a number of holes 22 arranged in the enlargement 11 circularly around the center of the stud 20, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. A wing nut 23, screwed onto the downwardly projecting end of the stud 22 serves to secure the foot attachment means to the end of the crossbar 10. The pin 19 and the enlargement 11 with its openings 22 comprise an adjustment means whereby the forefoot plate 12 may be swung through the positions indicated by phantom lines 12a and 12b, Fig. 3.

Flanges 24 are extended upwardly from the mesial edges of the heel plates 14 so that they will rest against the medial aspects of the infants heels which are secured to the attachment means 13 in a manner which will be hereinafter described. Each of these flanges 24 has a slot 25 therein, and at the rear of each heel plate 14 there is a projection 26 arranged to project rearwardly beyond the rear margin of the heel to receive binding means by which the infants foot is secured. A layer of felt 27, shaped to conform to the upper faces of the parts 12 and 14, is cemented thereto as to provide a cushion. This felt piece 27 is provided with notches 28 on opposite sides of the center line of the hinge-forming rivet, and is provided with a tongue 29 to extend upwardly along the inner face of the flange 24.

The foot attachment means 13 may be separated from the crossbar 10 and secured to the foot in a manner somewhat as shown in Fig. 5. The infants heel 30 is placed over the heel plate 14, with the forefoot 31 projecting forwardly upon the forefoot plate 12. The flange 24 rests against the median face of the heel 30. The slot 25 in the upper forward portion of the flange 24 is employed as a starting point for an adhesive strip 32 which is carried over the instep of the foot and then rearwardly and downwardly across the distal face of the heel as indicated by dotted lines 32a. The strip 32 is then carried under the projection 26 and the remaining portion 32b is carried upwardly along the rearward portion of the heel 30 and then along the median aspect of the ankle and lower leg. Other adhesive strips such as indicated at 33 and 34 are applied to form a substantial binding for the heel portion of the foot. The forefoot 31 is secured to the forefoot plate 12 by adhesive strips such as indicated at 35, care being taken to assure that the bindings for the heel and forefoot portions do not overlap and thereby immobilize the heel plate with relation to the forefoot plate.

When the attachment means 13 is secured to the end of the crossbar 10, the forefoot plate 12 is adjusted to the desired angular position with relation to the adduction which is to be corrected. Accordingly, the forefoot of the infant is held in a definite position relative to the crossbar 10, and therefore swinging movements of the crossbar in the plane of its upper face will result in similar swinging movements of the infants forefoot. The heel plate 14, however, is not fixed relative to the crossbar 10 but may swing around the hinge means as previously explained with relation to Fig. 3. The heel of the infant tends to take the position determined by the lower extremity of the leg to which it is attached, and therefore when a swinging movement of the bar 10 in the plane of its upper face is transmitted to the forefoot portion of the infants foot, there will be a manipulation of the forefoot with relation to the heel portion. As correction of the inturned forefoot takes place, the adjustment of the forefoot plate 12 may be gradually changed.

In Fig. 6, I show an inwardly turned left heel 37 and the position of the foot attachment means 13 with relation thereto intended to bring the heel back toward normal position as indicated by the heel 37a in Fig. 7 The flange 24 rests against the median aspect of the heel 37 so that it will apply positive pressure against the heel, when the proper bindings are applied, to effect an adjustment of the heel 37 back into physiological position. During the kicking movements of the infant, the crossbar 10 will not only be swung in the plane of its upper face, but will also be. swung around an anterior-posterior axis through the infants foot, that is to say, the crossbar 10 will be swung from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6 toward and through the position in which it is shown in Fig. 7, thereby transmitting through the heel plate 14 and its flanges 24 to the heel 37 adjusting movements which will accomplish a correction of talipes in its various forms. .In addition to the effectiveness of the splint in the correction of metatarsus adductus, the action of the heel plate is to correct talipes varus and the action transmitted through the combined forefoot plate 12 and heel plate'14. is effective in correction. of talipes equinovarus.

I claim:

1. In a splint of the character described: a crossbar; foot attachment means at one end of said crossbar having a forefoot plate and a heel plate arranged to be secured to the foot for which correction is desired; means connecting said forefoot plate to said end of said crossbar so that lateral swinging movement of said crossbar will be transmitted to said forefoot plate; a free-acting pivot connecting said heel plate to said forefoot plate so that said heel plate will have lateral swinging movement relative to said forefoot plate when said plates are secured to a foot which is to be corrected; and means at the remaining end of said crossbar for connecting it to the leg of the infant opposite to the foot being treated.

.2. In a splint of the character described: a crossbar; foot attachment means at one end of said crossbar having a forefoot plate and a heel plate arranged to be secured to the foot for which correction is desired; adjustable means connecting said forefoot plate to said end of said crossbar so that it may be secured rigidly in different positions relative to said crossbar; free-acting pivot means connecting the forward portion of said heel plate to said forefoot plate so that said heel plate will have lateral swinging movement relative to said forefoot plate when said plates are secured to a foot which is to be corrected; and means at the remaining end of said crossbar for connecting it to the leg of the infant opposite to the foot being treated.

3. In a splint of the character described: a crossbar; foot attachment means at one end of said crossbar having a forefoot plate and a heel plate arranged to be secured to the foot for which correction is desired; adjustable means connecting said forefoot plate to said end of said crossbar so that the upper face is parallel to the plane of the upper face of said crossbar, so that it may be swung laterally and so that it may be secured rigidly in different positions relative to said crossbar; free-acting pivot means connecting the forward portion of said heel plate to said forefoot plate so that said heel plate will have lateral swinging movement relative to said forefoot plate.when said plates are secured to a foot which is to be corrected; and means at the remaining end of said crossbar for connecting it to the leg of the infant opposite to the foot being treated.

4. In a splint of the character described: a crossbar; foot attachment means at one end of said crossbar having a forefoot plate and a heel plate arranged to be secured to the foot for which correction is desired; adjustable means connecting said forefoot plate to said end of said crossbar so that it may be secured rigidly in different positions relative to said crossbar; free-acting pivot means connecting the forward portion of said heel plate to said forefoot plate so that said heel plate will have lateral swinging movement relative to said forefoot plate when said plates are secured to a foot which is to be corrected; a flange extending up from a side of the heel plate so as to engage the medial face of the heel of the foot being treated; and means at the remaining end of said crossbar for connecting it to the leg of the infant opposite to the foot being treated.

5. In a splint of the character described: a crossbar; foot attachment means at one end of said crossbar having a forefoot plate and a heel plate arranged to be secured to the foot for which correction is desired; adjustablemeans connecting said forefoot plate to said end of said crossbar so that the upper face is parallel to the plane of the upper face of said crossbar, so that it may be swung laterally and so that it may be secured rigidly in different positions relative to said crossbar; free-acting pivot means connecting the forward portion of said heel plate to said forefoot plate so that said heel plate will have lateralswinging movement relative to said forefoot plate when said plates are secured to a foot which is to be corrected; a flange extending up from a side ofthe-heelplate so as to engage the medial face ofthe heel of the foot being treated; and means at the remaining end of said crossbar for connecting it to the leg of the infant opposite to the foot being treated.

6. In a splint of the character described: a crossbar; foot attachment means at one end of said crossbar having a forefoot plate and a heel plate arranged to be secured to the foot for which correction is desired; means connecting said forefoot plate to said end of said crossbar so that lateral swinging movement of said crossbar will be transmitted to said forefoot plate; a free-acting pivot connecting said heel plate to said forefoot plate so that said heel plate will have lateral swinging movement relative to said forefoot plate when said plates are secured to a foot which is to be corrected; a flange extending up from a side of the heel plate so as to engage the medial face of the heel-of the foot being treated; and means at the remaining end of said crossbar for connecting it to the leg of the infant opposite to the foot being treated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS diana, page 114.

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery for Jan. 1947, page 248.

(Copies of the above in Div. 55.) 

